Automatic cleaning device for battery brooders



1948- H. o. PETRASKE 2,448,120

AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR BATTERY BROODERS Filed Feb. 11, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. HARRY 0 PETRASKE AT ORNEY Aug. 31, 1948. H. o. PETRASKE 2,448,120

AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR BATTERY BROODERS Filed Feb. 11, 1943 e Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. HARRY 0. PET/{5K5 BY g",

,4 TTRNE Aug. 31, 1948. H. o. PETRASKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 v, INVEN TOR. HARRYO I ETE'A SKE H. O. PETRASKE Aug. 31, 1948.

AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR BATTERY BROODERS Filed Feb. 11, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HARRY 0. I ETR/ISKE BY ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1948. H. o. PETRASKE AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR BATTERY BROODERS Filed Feb. 11, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HARQ Y 0 PEnQAs KE ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1948. 0, PETRASKE 2,448,120

AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR BATTERY BROODERS Filed Feb. 11, 1943 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I N V EN TOR. HARRY 0. PETRA 5 ms BY hi7 v 5 A TTORIYEY Patented Aug. 31, 19-48 AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR BATTERY BROODERS Harry 0. Petraske, Fort Atkinson, Wis., assignor to James Manufacturing Company, Fort Atkinson, Wis a company of Wisconsin Application February 11, 1943, Serial No. 475,511

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to battery brooders and the like used for laying hens, brooding chicks and for raising broilers wherein Wire screen floors are provided for the birds in each compartment which are arranged one above the other and droppings pans are positioned directly below the screen floors for catching the droppings.

In devices of this class, the droppings pans should be cleaned at stated intervals. This is quite a task when done manually by means of a hand scraper and if the cleaning is neglected, the droppings will dry and harden and make the cleaning more difiicult.

An object of my invention is to provide means whereby the droppings pans may be cleaned automatically at predetermined intervals and without attention.

In most poultry farms, electric current is available and I therefore provide novel electrical means whereby the droppings pans are preferably cleaned automatically at predetermined intervals by means of a clock controlled electric motor.

Generally stated, an object of my invention is to provide a simple low cost cleaning device for a battery of the character which will operate at maximum eificiency.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the droppings are moved from the droppings pan and delivered into detachable receptacles so the receptacles may be emptied in a convenient manner and at the most convenient time for the attendant.

A further object of my invention is to provide a double bladed scraper for each droppings pan which is caused to move in opposite directions to the adjacent scraper simultaneously across the top of each pan.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the time between operations of the scrapers may be easily changed.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the class which is simple, easily understood, easily and cheaply operated and a device which will not disturb nor attract the attention of the birds while in operation.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists of parts, combinations of parts, or their equivalents, and mode of operation, as hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of a four tier battery brooder wherein feeding and watering troughs are shown as positioned on the sides of the compartments as is the custom in battery devices of the class.

Fig. 2 is a three quarter perspective view of the opposite end of the device shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 taken from the motor side of the device with the feeding and watering troughs removed and having a broken away section in order to illustrate in full lines two of the scrapers in a medial position and showing one wire closure for the sides of the compartments.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged drawing of a scraper as viewed from the end of the device and illustrating a fraction of the frame and, a fraction of the wire closure for the ends of the compartments.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of the scraper illustrated in Figure 4 showing a fraction of the frame structure, droppings pan, and guide bars.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of the scraper illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and showing a fraction of the guide bar and droppings pan.

Fig. '7 is a side View of the mechanism which operates the controlling switches and illustrating the motor driving connection to one of the chain shafts.

Fig. 8 is a fractional view of the device shown in Figure 7, looking up on line 88 of this figure.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic drawing illustrating the switches, relay. electric circuits and clock mechanism for operating the stopping and starting switches.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 taken on line ill-l 0 of Figure 7.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one of the stop members rising from a chain of the mechanism.

In the various figures, the droppings pan scrappers are designated in their entireties b reference characters A, and the compartments for the birds are designated in their entireties by reference characters B. The rod assemblies forming the closures for the ends of the compartments are designated in their entireties by reference characters C and the rod assemblies forming c10- sures for the sides of the compartments are designated in their entireties by reference character D. The longitudinal bars in their entireties are designated by reference character E.

The frame of my device comprises corner posts l0, intermediate post ll arranged on opposite sides of the device as illustrated in Figure 3, longitudinal bars E and transverse members as will hereinafter appear. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 I illustrate a four compartment battery; that is, spaces for four separate groups of birds, one above the other. The means provided for forming the four compartments comprise four drop- 3 pings pans i2 and four wire screen floors Hi. The pans are provided with upwardly turned flanges l4 at their sides and downwardly extendin flanges I5 at their ends.

Posts l and II are secured together by means of side bars E having the shape clearly illustrated in Figure 4. These 'bars are suitably secured to posts llland II by means of boltsas at l6-l6 (see Figure 4). Bars E are shaped so as to provide depending members I! and a horizontal member l8 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Posts In and l l are also secured together by means of transverse members Iii-which are about on the same plane as the top-of'bars (see Figure 4) the ends extending through thelongitudinal flanges of members IU-andfl as at 2020.

The centers longitudinally of members 113 are slightly higher than the outer edges and at this high point they rest on longitudinal bars 2! which in turn rest on members 1-9. The outer edges *of members l3 are adjacent the top edges of 'm-e'mbersE. Clearly posts l0 and Il ma "beof anycross section. In the present design I-disclose these posts as being assembled into'recta-ngular shapes (see Figure Droppings pans I 2 are positioned a short distance'below'members "l3 (see Figure 4). In order to provide inclosures'for the birds above each wire "screen =fioor, I .lprovide"rod assemblies Cand D. The rods of these assemblies are close enough to 'c'onfine thesmallest birds placed in the compartments and are generally removably attached s'o the-attendant can-remove birds from the ends orsid'esof the device'or a door-22 may beprovidedinmembers D for removing and replacing the birds ('s'ee'Figure 3) Member I3 is made "of a suitable "mesh 'so' it answers'as a floor-for thebirdsJ-but the mesh is such as will permit droppings to fall into pan-s i 2.

Iprovide' any convenient means for'feedin'g'and watering the birds. 'In'the figures, numeral3'il designates the feed troughs, which are arranged on opposite sides of each compartment' andat the bottom. Directl above each of the 'feed troughs andslidably mounted thereon i I Y provide preferably a *V =shap'ed watering trough =3 I.

The mesh in members- Dis large enough' so the birds have free access to the feeding' rand' 'watering troughsas'is customary in devices of 'the class. Members 3| are at one'end prov-idedwith an 'overflowwhich" drains into a suitable vertical duct-'33.

Th design and manner of securing-the feeding and watering troughs into- -pos'itio'n form --no part or the present inventionand "I "have sh'dwn these members merely as a matter or convenience.

It willbe-note'd th'atmembers-E form'closures for the sides of the spaces between-members l2 arid I3. The 'ends of'the-spaces are left open as clearly illustrated in Figure4. These openings are designated by -numerals 34.

1 provide'side plate extensions35'35- for each pair of compartments-and on opposite ends er the device. "I provide preferably defiectorplates'tt. The object' of V these "deflectors is to "direct the droppings that "are scraped from thenext above droppings pano'utwardly so'they will fall'into droppings receptacles 31. These receptacles are removably' secured and provided on opposite ends of the -device,-"on'e*for eachpairef droppings pans.

-I- rotatably mount spaced shafts 38 in members 35, each shaft having two sprockets 3'9 -inthe position shown-in Figure l. I-provide endless chains '4ll which"-engage sprockets 39, two for "6) so that when members A are in their medial positions, all of channels 4| will be in vertical alignment.

I secure two pronged brackets 43 to the ends of members 4|, the prongs extending upwardly and outwardly in opposite directions from this member as illustrated in Figure 6, the outer ends being bent so they are parallel with each other and are arranged to yieldingl contact members l8 and thereby hold scraper blades 44 snugly against droppings pans i2.

*Blades- M are shaped'and secured tomembers t! asillustratediii-Figures l, 5 and 6 so that when they are movedacross their droppingspa-ns, allot-the droppings will be scraped freeand carried to the ends of-thepansand depositedin members31.

I provide --means whereby the pairs of scrapersare moved simultaneously in opposite directions-to the ends 'of'their pans and then rest in this position fora predetermined length of time, after which they are movedin opposite directions'to the otherends of their pans.

I preferably provide means for automatically moving the scrapers across the tops of their pans and at predetermined intervals as follows:

IA'motor 5t ismounted on a member -35-preferably as illustrated in Figures 1 and-3, having preferably aplug-li-nextension 51 'a V-b'elt pulley 52,=an ope'rating'ponnection to -a shaft "38 -by means" of a worm gearii-3,and aworm -pinion 54 which is =mounted-on 'a' shaft '55. "Shaft 55 i is rotatably mounted in bearings 56'56 and has at its-"outer end a v-belt pulley 5i.

hn' op'erating connection between pulleys-52 and 51 is for-med -by means of -a -V-belt-58 thus when motor 50 turns in one direction or the otheryshaft ilfl will be turned in one direction or theother.

- On" th'e'oppositeend of shaft 38 from" worm gear 53 I 'mount-a sprockets!) (-see-Figure-1;). On the lower shaft 38 of the upper pairs of shafts, I mount a sprocket 60. Sprockets-59and Scare operatively connected together by means 'of a chaimGH-thlis the upper-pair of shafts will be turned similar 'to the lower'pairs in a manner which will move =-'ad'jacer'1t pairs of scrapers 'simultaneously in opposite directions because of chains 40. I

Motor reversin g and stopp'ing and starting switches areJ-p'rovided and designated in their entireties by reference characters "F and G respectively. 5 Members F and (5: --are preferably mounted in as'witch box 62 '(se'eFigured) "Box 62 is provided with a conduit ''63 which leads-to a motor terminal boxwhich in itsentir'ety is designatedby r'eferen ce' character H.

Eiite'nsion 5' I i comprises line wires 64 and' 65. Certain terminalsinbo'x I-I are connected to inotor 5B byln'eans of suitable wires-in'conduit iili. Wires 88, 69, 'lfifian'd lle xtend from-terminals inbox inthrough condint ts tO-llh various 't'rminals' in -box fl. 'Wires '10 and 'I I-lead --to terminaIs in member- H which-are connectedto' the main motdr coil -45. ires' 68' and-69 are 'connected to terminals in member H which-*are 'in guano-i 5.; turnconnect'ed to the motor starting coil 49 when the switch 41- is closed, this switch is opened by centrifugal force when the motor isabovea is; slida-bly mounted in member I5, the other end" being bent outwardly and extending through a slot 19 in member 35 and bein longitudinally slidabl-ysecured (not shown) to the bottom end of alever 11 as at 18.

Stop 13 is in a position which will move the lower end of lever '17 on its pivot 80 in the direction indicated by the arrow when the scrapers are at one end of their droppings pans. I provide a second lever '19 on member 35 which is separately pivoted with lever I1 to member 35 as at 80. The upper end of lever 19 is provid ed with a connection to another member BI and is slidably mounted on member 35 as at 15a. The'left end of upper member 14 extends through another slot 16a and is operatively connected to the upper end of lever 19 as at 82. Slots I6 and 15a are made wide enough so that the angled ends of members 14 and 8| will be free to move in an are about pivot 80.

It will be seen that when the scrapers are at opposite ends of their pairs of droppings pans with the lower scraper at the left end of its pan, member TI will be in the position shown in Figure '7, and when, as will hereinafter appear, the motor is reversed, and the chain caused to travel in the other direction, and when the upper scrapers are at the other ends of their pans, the upper end of member 79 will be moved to the left.

On the opposite ends of members I1 and I9,

I secure chains 8383, each extending around a.

pulley 84 and engaging spring 85, the inner ends of the spring being operatively connected to lever 86 as at 8-'I8'I.

Lever 86 is hinged as at 88. I provide means whereby lever 86 is yieldingly forced into itstwo extreme positions in any convenient manner. In Figure 9 I have shown one form of a toggle joint for this purpose which comprises a rod 89 which is slidably mounted in a, bracket 90, one end being hingedly connected to lever 86 as at 9 I and having a spring 92.

It will be seen that stops I313a will act to throw the switch in one direction when the scrapers are at one end of their droppings pans and throw this switch in the opposite direction when the scrapers are at the opposite ends of their droppings pans. The object of this switch is to reverse and stop the motor because of the position of the switch on member G.

I provide means associated with a clock operated switch which, after a predetermined time, will act to again close the circuit and cause the motor to move the scrapers to the other ends of their droppings pans as follows:

Clock 95 is operatively connected to a shaft 96 by means of a chain of gears and pinions so shaft 96 will preferably turn one half wa around every three hours. A cam 91 is secured to shaft 96. A forked bracket 98 is adapted to be moved in opposite directions by cam 91 so as to bring switch member 99 in contact with switch point I when in one position and cause member 99 to contact point I0'I- when cam 91 is in the other position. Member 98 is hingedly mounted as at 94.

Clearly the switch in member G can be made to operate every three hours or the gears. be-- tween shaft 96 and the clock may be arranged so the cam will act on the switch every four or six hours.

By scrutinizing Figures 1', '7, 8, 9, and 10, and the position-of switches F, G and J, it will be seen that the motor will be operating to move the scrapers in opposite directions, that. when the scrapers: reach the ends of the pans switch F'willl be operated, stopping the motor and forming connections which will reverse the motor which is now standing; then when the clock actsto contact members 99 and NI, the motor will again be started in the opposite direction. The position of switch G will hold the circuit open because of the position of switch F. When clock acts to bring points 99 and I91 together as next above recited; the circuit will be closed; Thus when the clock causes member 99 to al.- ternately contact members I00 and I0 I the-scraperswill be moved alternately across their pans.

In other words, when the motor is reversed it is. stopped because of'the position of switch G whichis controlled by the clock.

Member G is shown in its simplest form. I prefer however, a snap switch mechanism. having a disc 93 marked similar to the numbers on the face of a clock and provide adjustable means. so; member 93 may act to operate the switch whena predetermined number on the disc is inline with an arrow I02. As shown in Figure 9, they device is positioned to operate at 12 oclock and start the motor by reversing the switch and then when the motor is stopped by switch F, the clock mechanism will act to again reverse the switch.

in member G- at say 9 oclock. Disc 93 is provided with means whereby it ma be positioned. so the switch will be operated at any predetermined time by moving the disc so the arrow indicates. the time for operating the switch.

As is: the custom, in devices of the kind, I provide a. relay which is operated by switch F. This relay is designated in its entirely by reference character J and comprises a coil I05, and contact points I06, I91, I98 and I09. Contact points H0 and III are mounted on an insulating; bar I I2 which is adapted to be moved to the position shown by a spring (not shown) and when coil I05 in energized, member II2 will be moved downwardly because of iron bar I03 so members.

' I I0 and I II will be brought in contact with memthe circuit will have been opened by switch G- so the motor will not start in the other direction until member 99 is brought in contact with member IOI by the operation of the clock since members H0 and III oscillate somewhat, wires 68 and 69 are coiled adjacent these parts as shown, so as to permit free movement of member I I2.

It will be seen that switches F and G and relay J will act to reverse and stop the motor when the scrapers are at one end of a pan and the clock will act to start the motor and move the scrapers to the other end of the pan at which time switch F will again operate to reverse and stop the motor until switch G is moved to the other position, switch F acting to operate the relay and the relay acting to reverse the connections to the motor by throwing the motor into the circuit which is open because of the position of switch G.

1. A device of the character described, comprising an elongated frame rectangular in horizontal and vertical section, a droppings pan at the bottom of said frame and a droppings pan intermediate the bottom and top thereof, a screen floor positioned a short distance above each of said pans, closures positioned-between the bottom screen and the upper droppings pan and between the upper screen and the top of the device forming compartments,- one above the other, guideways positioned between the sides of each of said pans and the adjacent sides of the screen floors, an endless chain on each side of the device, the top and bottom portions of each chain extending along and adjacent the insides of the adjacent guideways, each of said chains extending around sprockets which are positioned at the ends of the frame, and a double edged scraper adapted to lie transversely on each of said droppings pans, their ends being secured to the adjacent portions of the chains, said chains being operatively connected together whereby the scrapers are in vertical alignment when in the longitudinal center of the pans, said guideways having inwardly extending tracks which lie a distance above the adjacent portions of the chains, said scrapers having at each end means adapted to yieldingly contact the under sides of said tracks and thereby yieldingly hold the scrapers downwardly against the droppings pans, whereby the scrapers may be moved in opposite directions simultaneously from one end of the pans to the other.

2. A device of the character described, comprising an elongated frame rectangular in horizontal and vertical section, a number of vertically spaced droppings pans in said frame, a screen floor positioned a short distance above each of said droppings pans, closures between each said screen floor and the next above droppings pan and between the upper screen floor and the top of the frame forming separate compartments, guideways positioned between the sides of each of said pans and the adjacent sides of the screen floors, pairs of endless chains, the chains of each pair being positioned on opposite sides of the inclosure, the top and bottom of each chain extending along and adjacent the insides of said guideways, each chain extending around sprockets at the ends of the device, and a double edged scraper adapted to lie transversely on each of said droppings pans, their ends being secured to the adjacent portion of the chains, each pair of chains being operatively connected together, whereby the scrap- 8 ers of each pair of chains are in vertical alignment when in the longitudinal centers of their pans, said guideways having inwardly extending tracks which lie above the adjacent chains, said scrapers having at each end means adapted to yieldingly contact the under side of the tracks to thereby yieldingly hold the scrapers downwardly against their droppings pans, whereby the scrapers of each pair of chains may be movedin opposite directions simultaneously from one end of their pair of pans to the other.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 including; a reversible motor having a reversing and stopping mechanism operatively connected to said chains, stops attached to one of the chains adapted to alternately operate said reversing mechanism when the scrapers are at the ends of the pans, and a clock mechanism associated with .said stopping mechanism adapted to again close the circuit and cause the motor to operate in the other direction after a predetermined time whereby the scrapers will be caused to move across their pans at intervals as determined by the clock.

4. A device as recited in claim 2 including; a reversible motor having a reversing and a stopping mechanism and being operatively connected to each of said pairs of chains, stops on one of the chains adapted to operate said reversing and stopping mechanism alternately when the scrapers are at the ends of the pans, and a clock mechanism associated with said reversing and stopping mechanism adapted to close the circuit again after a predetermined lapse of time whereby the scrapers will be caused to move across their pans at intervals as determined by the clock.

HARRY O. PETRASKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,878,503 Martin Sept. 20, 1932 1,879,818 Nielsen Sept. 27, 1932 7 2,068,566 Olson et a1 Jan. 19, 1937 2,096,356 Fox Oct. 19, 1937 2,281,339 Taggart Apr. 28, 1942 2,294,025 Dagg Aug. 25, 1942 2,307,984 Brand Jan. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 7 Country Date 446,019 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1936 

